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Zoom: Clothes Make the Country
Monday, January 24 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm | add to Google Calendar
This is a Zoom program. To receive the link, register by clicking here.
American colonial portraits reveal important clues into the values, aspirations, and daily lives of men, women, and children in the 18th century. By closely examining several works from a 50-year period, especially the clothing and accessories portrayed, we will discover how these paintings reflect the shaping of our unique American identity. This focus on portraits provides fresh ways to consider the formation of a nation.
Along the way, we will understand how art and artists came to the colonies, not a given in a world with no art supplies. Essentially self-taught, artists were wily in making this new profession work. One became the first American art superstar–John Singleton Copley. We will take a close look at Copley, with his smart marketing eye, who was in-demand for his forthright, yet charming portraits during the late colonial period. His work guides us through the formation of the American identity.
Presented by Rena Tobey. Rena’s greatest passion is making art accessible, invigorating, insightful, and fun. She has taught art history at NYU’s School for Professional Studies and Southern Connecticut State University. Rena provides talks for many community organizations and conducts lively, interactive tours of museum collections, now online. Just for fun, she has created Artventures!® Game–a cheeky party game on the adventures of art and art history.